Spoon combination having a chamber with an outlet and a valve

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a spoon combination having a bowl and a chamber with an outlet adjacent to but spaced from the bowl, a valve closing the outlet and an opening on the top of the chamber which is large enough to pour a liquid into the chamber. The spoon combination may include a well underneath the opening in which a pill may be crushed and liquid poured thereover so that a mixture is contained in the chamber until it is dispensed.

Unit

States Patent Gerald Massa Inventor 49 Northern Blvd, Staten Island, N.Y. 10301 Appl. No. 3,397

Filed Jan. 16, 1970 Patented Oct. 12, 197i SPOON COMBINATION HAVING A CHAMBER WITH AN OUTLET AND A VALVE 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 222/191, 222/441, 222/474 lint. Cl 867d 5/06 Field of Search 222/19] [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 160,852 3/1875 Thayer 222/473 X 1,642,425 9/1927 Miller 222/456 Primary ExaminerSamuel F. Coleman Attorney-John M. Montstream ABSTRACT: The invention is directed to a spoon combination having a bowl and a chamber with an outlet adjacent to but spaced from the bowl, a valve closing the outlet and an opening on the top of the chamber which is large enough to pour a liquid into the chamber. The spoon combination may include a well underneath the opening in which a pill may be crushed and liquid poured thereover so that a mixture is contained in the chamber until it is dispensed.

SPOON COMBINATION HAVING A CHAMBER WITH AN OUTLET AND A VALVE The spoon combination herein provides a device for administering a liquid, such as medicine, to a person in a prescribed amount. In its preferred construction, it provides an opening in the top and at the end of the chamber and a surface beneath the opening upon which a pill may be crushed and mixed with a liquid. It is particularly desirable to provide a well at the crushing surface so that the crushed material is better retained therein and also so that a little liquid may be added in the well to assist in the crushing and/or mixing of the liquid and the crushed pill.

The principle object of the invention is to provide a dispensing spoon combination having a bowl and a chamber for a liquid medicine with an outlet adjacent to the bowl and a valve to control the delivery of the liquid from the outlet through a channel to the bowl and an opening of substantial size in the top of the chamber and at the end thereof remote from the outlet so that a pill may be crushed in the chamber through the opening and liquid poured in thereafter to mix with the crushed pill so that the mixture can be dispensed.

Another object is as above and also to provide a well below the opening in the chamber to contain the pill or so that a small portion of liquid may be poured into the well to assist in crushing the pill or in mixing the crushed pill with the liquid if this should be desired.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which: I

FIG. 1 is a side view of the spoon combination;

FIG. 2 is a plan view;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. l; and,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

The spoon combination has a bowl 11 from which the liquid is dispensed. A chamber 12 is attached and is preferable integral with the bowl, and spaced a short distance from the bowl. The chamber has an outlet 13 adjacent to the bowl and connected therewith by a channel 14. The outlet is within the channel and has a shoulder around its periphery to form a valve seat 15. The inner walls of the chamber taper to the shoulder so that there are no inner corners to make cleaning more difficult. The chamber has an end wall 16 which closes a substantial part of the other end of the chamber and at this end there is an opening 17 on the top, that is, it faces in the same direction as the bowl. This opening is large enough so that liquid may be poured therethrough into the chamber and also prevent an air trap so that heavy liquids will flow out quickly through the outlet. It is large enough also so that a pill may be crushed within the chamber against the bottom at this end.

Desirably the chamber has an inner well 20 which is formed by an inner shoulder or dam of suitable form, that shown being formed by an elongated finger depression 21 extending upwardly from the bottom of the chamber for comfortable and safe holding of the spoon device. This finger depression, therefore, serves a double function. The long curvature of the finger depression also has no interior comers to make cleaning of the chamber more difficult. Preferably too, the well has an increased depth by extending the same below the general level of the bottom of the chamber. It is convenient for the bottom of the well to tilt at an angle and the edge of the opening 17 may be at the same angle. This enables the spoon to be held on a table engaging the bottom of the well and the opening is in the best position to crush a pill in the well if a pill is prescribed. It also enables the well to receive a little liquid to aid in crushing the pill and to initially mix the crushed pill with the liquid.

When liquid is poured through the opening over the crushed pill and into the chamber, the pill particles become mixed with the liquid. The chamber, preferably, is of transparent material so that the level of liquid can be observed and to assist in pouring the correct amount of liguid into the chamber. The wall is provided with quantity gr nations 22, preferably extending at the same angle as the angle of the opening which is roughly about 40.

A valve 25 is used to close the outlet 13. The chamber carries spaced ears 26 on the top thereof which ears carry a pivot pin 27 on which is mounted a valve lever 28. The end of the valve lever carries the valve which seats on the valve seat around the outlet. The valve may have a gasket 29 in order to assure a tight valve. The valve extends into the channel 14 between the outlet and the bowl. A U-shaped spring 30 is pressed into a recess or pocket 31 on the top of the chamber to retain the spring therein and the other end freely engages the valve lever to keep the valve closed. The cars 26 may extend towards the bowl to deepen the channel at the outlet.

The chamber may be of any form of cross section, however, a square cross section is shown since it provides greater volume for its length and provides a flat bottom surface which is advantageous for crushing a pill within the chamber or when pouring a liquid into the chamber or when resting the spoon device on a table or shelf. There are no interior comers in the chamber which would be difiicult to clean.

This invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in a spoon combination having a chamber with an outlet and a valve to control the discharge of liquid from the chamber to the bowl. It is understood that various modifications in structure, as well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use may and often do occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefiting from the teachings of an invention. This disclosure illustrates the preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form.

What is claimed is:

l. A spoon combination comprising; a bowl, an elongated chamber having an outlet at the end thereof adjacent to but spaced from the bowl, a channel from the outlet to the bowl, the chamber having an end wall at the other end of the chamber from the outlet which closes at least a substantial part of this end of the chamber, the chamber having an opening in the top thereof corresponding in position to that of the bowl and at or adjacent to the end wall, the opening being large enough to enable liquid to be poured into the chamber therethrough, a manually operable valve closing the outlet and a well within the chamber and opposite: the opening in the top and adjacent to the end wall.

2. A spoon combination as in claim l in which the chamber has a projection therein spaced from the end wall and forming the well.

3. A spoon combinan'on as in claim 2 in which the well is formed by an elongated finger depression in the bottom of the chamber.

4. A spoon combination as in claim 3 in which the well is formed by the finger depression and a downward extension of the well below the bottom of the chamber.

5. A spoon combination comprising a bowl, an elongated chamber having an outlet at the end thereof adjacent to but spaced from the bowl, a rectangular channel from the outlet to the bowl having an open top, the chamber having an end wall at the other end of the chamber from the outlet which closes at least a substantial part of this end of the chamber, the chamber having an opening in the top thereof corresponding in position to that of the bowl and at or adjacent to the end wall, the opening being large enough to enable liquid to be poured into the chamber therethrough, a manually operable valve of rectangular form in the channel and engaging the sides thereof and closing the outlet. 

1. A spoon combination comprising a bowl, an elongated chamber having an outlet at the end thereof adjacent to but spaced from the bowl, a channel from the outlet to the bowl, the chamber having an end wall at the other end of the chamber from the outlet which closes at least a substantial part of this end of the chamber, the chamber having an opening in the top thereof corresponding in position to that of the bowl and at or adjacent to the end wall, the opening being large enough to enable liquid to be poured into the chamber therethrough, a manually operable valve closing the outlet and a well within the chamber and opposite the opening in the top and adjacent to the end wall.
 2. A spoon combination as in claim 1 in which the chamber has a projection therein spaced from the end wall and forming the well.
 3. A spoon combination as in claim 2 in which the well is formed by an elongated finger depression in the bottom of the chamber.
 4. A spoon combination as in claim 3 in which the well is formed by the finger depression and a downward extension of the well below the bottom of the chamber.
 5. A spoon combination comprising a bowl, an elongated chamber having an outlet At the end thereof adjacent to but spaced from the bowl, a rectangular channel from the outlet to the bowl having an open top, the chamber having an end wall at the other end of the chamber from the outlet which closes at least a substantial part of this end of the chamber, the chamber having an opening in the top thereof corresponding in position to that of the bowl and at or adjacent to the end wall, the opening being large enough to enable liquid to be poured into the chamber therethrough, a manually operable valve of rectangular form in the channel and engaging the sides thereof and closing the outlet. 